Mo. House passes minimum wage restriction

Legislation that would bar the state minimum wage from exceeding the federal rate has passed the Missouri House.

A ballot initiative passed in 2006 raised Missouri’s minimum wage to $6.50 an hour and tied future increases to the rate of inflation.

House Democrats argued that a higher minimum wage would stimulate spending and improve the economy. But State Representative Jeff Grisamore (R, Lee’s Summit) says capping the state minimum wage will help small businesses survive.

“The small business owner in Missouri that accounts for about 95 percent of the business activity in our state simply cannot sustain these unlimited increases and keep their doors open," Grisamore said.

The bill now goes to the State Senate. Missouri’s state minimum wage currently matches the federal rate of $7.25 an hour.

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The Missouri House has given first-round approval to legislation that would prohibit the state's minimum wage from exceeding the federal rate.

In 2006, Missouri voters approved a ballot initiative that set the state's minimum wage at $6.50 an hour, and allowed future minimums to rise based on the rate of inflation. It now matches the federal level of $7.25 an hour.